Eurotec buys former M-Pact Worldwide offices

A Lawrence company that supplies part and components to helicopter owners and repair shops is moving to Eudora. Enlarge video

Eudora  Eurotec Vertical Flight Solutions, a Lawrence-based firm that supplies helicopter owners and repair shops with everything from nuts and bolts to rotors and engines, is taking off for Eudora.

The company is the new owner of the former administrative offices of M-Pact Worldwide, a medical supplies company bought out by BSN Medical Inc., which closed the operation late last year.

The 21,000-square-foot building, along the north side of Kansas Highway 10 in the Intech Business Park, offers Eurotec a chance to keep up with rising demand for new and used parts, said Chad Decker, the company's president and owner.

Sales have doubled during the past three years, he said, as the company has built a client list of 450 owner/operators and service shops that typically work with six- to eight-passenger helicopters.

Eurotec has landed two contracts during the past year with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, whose helicopter fleet has been growing along with those of other law-enforcement and security agencies. Demand for air ambulances, oil crew transports and tourism-related helicopters also is driving the need for new and serviceable used parts, Decker said.

"If you've taken a tour in Hawaii or Las Vegas, most likely there's a part from Eurotec on it," he said.

Eurotec has been running its international sales and distribution operation for six years out of a nondescript, 3,600-square-foot office at 4910 Wakarusa Court. The company also has a separate storage center in Lawrence, with 2,000 square feet of space.

The former M-Pact building will allow for both operations to be consolidated, Decker said. The company has 10 workers on the payroll now - eight full-time, plus two part-time - with plans for adding another five to 10 within the first year.

Eurotec had hoped to stay in Lawrence, but couldn't find a building that was both large enough and available for sale, Decker said. Timing also was an issue.

"Because of the rapid growth of our company, building new just wasn't an option," Decker said. "When we found this building on the market, it didn't take us very long to make the decision."

Eurotec aims to have interior remodeling complete in time to move by Sept. 1. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but the property had been listed for sale at $1.295 million.

"It's a long-term investment," Decker said. "We plan to be around for a long time."

This isn't a "City" problem at all, its a developer issue. If our genius developers would build warehouse/office space instead of big box department stores and strip malls, this would be a better place to do business. This is the second business to leave because of a lack of warehouse space. Nothing to do with living wages or red tape, just a lack of space available. This should tell the development community that there is money to be made in building additional space. The city does not need to be involved as this is an issue that the marketplace should handle. Granted, its not a housing development or a Wal*Mart, but money is money.

moderationman (Anonymous) says:This isn't a "City" problem at all, its a developer issue. If our genius developers would build warehouse/office space instead of big box department stores and strip malls, this would be a better place to do business.

The developer cant build it, if it isnt zoned for it, and with the currant situation with walmart the city is so slow to move an zoning question little alone re zoning that it is a city issue.

Try to call up and ask a zoning question, you get the planner of the day (what ever that means) who will politlly take down your question to refer to the real planner (who you will never get to talk to) and your question will be tabled until you call at least 3 times to climb the mountian. then if you are lucky the will find a catagory that your business will fit under even if it makes no sence and tell you that thats the best the can do. they are so hand cuffed by the thoughts that they may give into something that it is no wonder that businesses move.